
SSDRC
What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI?
How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI?
If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits?
How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition?
What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits
Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits
How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing
If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare?
How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid?
Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process
How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability?
What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits?
Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia
Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease
Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression?
Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability
What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits?
Social Security Disability Status
Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on
Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts
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If I am on Social Security Disability, can I lose my disability benefits at some point ? How to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits
There is no guarantee that you will always be entitled to Social Security disability benefits or SSI benefits. There are a couple of things that could cause your disability benefits to be suspended or even terminated. The two most common causes of Social Security disability termination are work activity and medical improvement. Social Security uses periodic continuing disability reviews (CDR) to evaluate both medical improvement and work activity.
Both Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income disability (SSI) are based upon the premise that your residual functional capacity (what you are able to do with the limitations of your disabling condition) is so restrictive that it prevents you from performing any kind of substantial work activity.
Naturally, Social Security must have a process to determine if you have had any medical improvement and if you remain unable to perform substantial gainful activity. This process is known as the continuing disability review or CDR.
Work activity and being taken off benefits
If you wish to get back to work, Social Security provides avenues that allow you to attempt work activity without losing your disability eligibility. For instance, you have nine trial work months in which Social Security allows you to earn any amount of money without it affecting your disability benefit eligibility.
The trick to the nine month trial work period is that the months do not have to be consecutive and can occur any time in a five year period. If you are performing substantial work activity in the tenth month, your disability benefits will be suspended and you begin an extended period of eligibility, or EPE.
The EPE begins with your tenth month of SGA-level earnings (see the SGA substantial gainful activity income limit) and lasts for a period of thirty-six months. During the thirty-six month period, you can start your disability benefits any time that you stop working or are no longer performing work activity at the SGA earnings level without any question.
However, if you work and have earnings up to the SGA income limit after the thirty-six month of the EPE, your disability benefits will be terminated. If you are able to perform substantial gainful work activity in spite of your disabling condition, why should you be receiving disability benefits?
Another cause of disability benefit termination is medical improvement and that is self-explanatory. Social Security gathers the medical records from medical sources you provide for your continuing disability review, if your medical records indicate that your disabling condition has improved to the point that you are no longer disabled under Social Security rules and guidelines, your disability benefits might be terminated due to medical improvement.
While there is a chance that your disability benefits may be terminated during your continuing disability review, it is unlikely. The vast majority of disability beneficiaries receive Social Security disability benefits until they convert to full retirement benefit, go back to work, or their death.
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page
Individual Questions and Answers
How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability ?
If you get Social Security disability benefits do you get Medicare or Medicaid?
If my medical condition keeps me from working will I get Social Security disability ?
What is a disability according to the Social Security Administration?
How long does it take receive disability benefits after you are approved?
What is the process to file a Social Security Disability appeal?
Is There Social Security Disability For Children?
Applying for disability benefits in Pennsylvania
Can You Get Approved For Social Security Disability If You Do Not Take Medication Or Go To a Doctor?
When you Apply for Social Security do you get Medicare?
Does Social Security offer Partial Disability Benefits?
To get Social security Disability or SSI do you have to have Total Disability?
If you appeal your Social Security disability claims how long does it take to receive a decision ?
What is a Social security disability Family Max ?
How Likely are You to Win Your Disability Case?
What are Medical Experts at Social Security disability hearings?
How do Social Security Disability and SSI appeals work ?
What is Social Security Back Pay?
How does Social Security use Evidence to Decide an SSDI or SSI Disability Claim and Make a Decision?
Does a person with severe keratoconus qualify to receive a disability grant?
What Can A Disability Lawyer Charge For Their Services - Fees and Expenses?
If you are applying for Social Security disability when does Medicare start ?
How to apply for social security disability benefits for children
Why was I denied social security disability?
How do you appeal if you are denied for Social Security disability or SSI ?
SSI Benefits - what do they include and how long does it take
Social Security Disability Approval
Social Security Disability Claim Denied and what to do about it
Do Most Social Security Disability Reconsiderations Get Turned Down?
Disability Hearings - Information on the Social Security Hearing Process
Do you get medical health care coverage with SSI ?
How far back are Social Security disability benefits awarded on an appeal?
The non-medical Disability Requirements for SSD and SSI
What does a lawyer do to help on Social Security disability ?
What do you if you get a disability claim denial? - Requirements for Disability
What is a Social Security Disability SSI Durational Denial?
Your Medical Condition and Social Security Disability or SSI
Do people need Lawyers for Disability Claims?
Disability Hearings - how many are won?
Do You have A Chance Of Losing Disability Benefits If Your Case Gets Reviewed?
How the Decision on a Disability Application or Appeal Under SSDI or SSI is Made
Appearing at the ALJ Hearing for Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits
How does Social Security consider lupus as a disability?
Social Security Disability Re-evaluations
COPD, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits
What happens after I file my disability claim?
If I am denied for disability from social security, what is the next immediate step to take?
How Does Social Security Disability Make Its Decision?
What If I Do Not Have Enough Work Credits For Social Security Benefits?
The Time Involved on a Social Security Disability Decision
Applying for disability benefits in Vermont
How is Social Security Disability Awarded?
How Much Do You Get For Disability If You Are Awarded Benefits?
Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Wisconsin
How do I see a judge for my social security disability case or SSI Claim?
The non-medical Disability Requirements for SSD and SSI
SSD and SSI are Federal Programs
The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:
Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state
Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials
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